Forms Of Bullying In The Workplace

Coercive behavior in the workplace is not limited to shouting or public humiliation. Sometimes, workplace bullying can be seen is less obvious ways. In this article, we’ll talk about the different forms of workplace bullying.

Not allowing access to opportunities and projects

Have you ever been denied permission to join a project or take part in a training program? This could be a form of bullying or workplace bullying. If your manager always says no whenever you express your interest to partake in a certain opportunity, then you may be a target of bullying. Some bullies use their power and position to make sure that you don’t excel. And most of the time, they don’t have a good reason to back it up.

Not giving feedback on performance

If your manager never gives you feedback, then be warned. Whether or not you’re doing well, you still deserve a performance evaluation as an employee. What does it mean when your manager withholds feedback? It could be because they’re not at all interested in your career development. Maybe they see you as a threat. Maybe they don’t like how your values are not aligned with theirs. By not giving feedback, your manager is denying you of career growth and improvement.

Withholding information

Bullies who withhold information are the so-called “gatekeepers.” Even if they know that you absolutely need that information to perform your task well, they’re not going to give it to you. This is their stealthy way of setting you up for failure. They’re not being openly aggressive towards you. But secretly, they are sabotaging your performance at work.

Exclusion from meetings

If a coworker wants to see you fail, then they will probably exclude you from important meetings. Deliberately leaving you out of important meetings is a very suspicious behavior. They might say that they just forgot. But you know better than that. This action can really damage your performance and productivity so you should definitely take action.

Threatening that you’ll get fired

If a supervisor ever threatens you that they’ll fire you, then that’s a huge red flag. This is power tripping, especially there is no valid reason behind it. If your supervisor threatens you just because you don’t agree with them, then that’s something that is not acceptable in the workplace.

Excessive micromanagement

Micromanagement is sometimes acceptable depending on the situation. However, it can also be a form of coercive behavior. If you notice that your supervisor monitors you excessively for no good reason, then be observant. It may be a form of intimidation and manipulation.

If you constantly experience any of these signs, then you need to take action. Remember, dealing with abusive behavior will eventually damage your performance and your well-being. If you can’t take the issue to higher management, then you can try building a supportive network in your company.